Vitality was reviving across the land of Shenzhou, but many plants had gone extinct. Not to mention the rare and spiritual fruits and melons, even ordinary food crops were scarce.
In the past, all ethnic groups only ate spiritual fruits and grains. Now, they had to rely on their small plots of land and a handful of seeds to survive.
In the territory of the Phoenix Clan, there was an abundance of fire elements and many gold and jade mines, but the land was not fertile. Brother Zhuyuan had been dedicated to improving the land conditions and managing agricultural affairs over the years. Now, the potatoes, sweet potatoes, and rice he had grown could barely sustain everyone.
The high - level Phoenixes could absorb spiritual energy to replenish their energy and would not starve even if they didn't eat. However, the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled in the clan, as well as those with lower cultivation levels, needed three meals a day.
Due to the lack of various nutrients, more and more clan members were falling ill. These days, when Yaohua patrolled the Phoenix Clan, she often heard coughing, and nosebleeds were also common.
The Phoenix Clan was stronger than ordinary ethnic groups, yet they were still in such a state under the long - term harsh environment. One could only imagine the situation of other ethnic groups.
"Little sister, why are you here?"
In the fields, Zhuyuan was working hard. When he saw her coming, his eyes lit up at first, but then his face turned a bit cold. "No, I should call you Clan Leader now, shouldn't I?"
Yaohua acted as if nothing had happened. "Fifth brother, why be so formal? I've come here today to bring you something good."
Zhuyuan snorted. "Even if you try to bribe me and be nice, I won't give you a good look."
Yaohua sighed slightly. "Well then, I won't be in your way here."
She picked up a shovel and went to another empty plot of land on her own. Although Zhuyuan seemed cold on the surface, he couldn't help stealing glances at her. The longer the time passed, the more anxious he became.
It was true that his little sister had been too willful when she insisted on becoming the clan leader and didn't care about their relationship as husband and wife at all. But as her elder brother, should he really haggle over every detail and hurt her feelings?
Moreover, Yaohua had been doted on by them since she was a child. How could he bear to let his little sister do farm work?
At this time, the steward who was helping him manage the farmland sighed. "The little princess has really grown up. Since she became the clan leader, she has patrolled the clan territory every day and has been very kind to everyone."
"She's just trying to gain a good reputation." Zhuyuan said this, but he unconsciously stretched his neck.
The steward twitched the corner of his mouth and couldn't stand it anymore. "If you're really worried about her, go and take a look."
Zhuyuan reluctantly withdrew his gaze. "Why would I be worried about her? I'm still angry. But... I can go and see what she's up to. I can't let her ruin my land!"
After finding an excuse for himself, he immediately trotted over and stood there with a straight face, saying nothing.
He saw Yaohua sowing seeds on the ground and then taking a sachet from her waist.
Zhuyuan recognized this sachet. It was the mustard seed bag rewarded by the God - Lord because of the caged bird incident. It looked very small, but it had a space of hundreds of square meters inside. Everything put into this mustard seed bag could maintain its vitality.
Yaohua took out a jade bottle from the mustard seed bag and dripped a drop gently.
Zhuyuan felt heart - broken. "This is the essence of plants rewarded by the God - Lord. Just one drop can accelerate the maturity of spiritual rice in ten acres of land. How can you use it casually?"
That was not ordinary rice, but spiritual rice! One catty of spiritual rice was equivalent to ten catties of ordinary rice.
After the essence of plants dripped down, the seeds Yaohua had just sown immediately grew vigorously and turned into a small tree half a person's height. The tree emitted a fragrant smell.
Zhuyuan's eyes lit up. "This, this is a medicinal herb?"
"This is the green lemon tree. Its leaves can supplement the nutrients lacking in the Phoenix Clan. If a Phoenix is sick, they can pick a leaf and make tea with it." Yaohua introduced.
Then, she took out several small packets of seeds. "I got the inheritance from the ancestor during my training some days ago. The ancestor knew about the current plight of Shenzhou and gave me the seeds hidden in the ice field. If fifth brother doesn't mind, you can take them and see if you can cultivate them."
Zhuyuan swallowed his saliva. When he took the seeds and looked at them, he couldn't help smiling. "Red - fire dogwood, spirit - gathering grass... These are all things our Phoenix Clan needs for cultivation. Besides filling our stomachs, the most important thing is that they can supplement spiritual power!"
"Why are there so many fruit trees! Is this the drunken grass that father likes the most?"
When the steward saw so many seeds, his eyes towards Yaohua became full of admiration. "The clan leader has put a lot of thought into this. These seeds are not only suitable for our Phoenix Clan's land and easy to cultivate, but also things that our clan can't do without on a daily basis. Especially this green lemon tree. It can relieve the pain of many Phoenixes!"
Yaohua put her hands behind her back and said with a smile. "Fifth brother, I know you're best at farming and sericulture. So, please work with sixth brother to be in charge of distributing the herbs and grains."
"But we've already decided not to have anything to do with you." Zhuyuan said without hesitation.
Yaohua narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Huh?"
Zhuyuan awkwardly looked up at the sky and stammered. "Since it's for official business, I'll agree to this once."
When the clan members heard that they could grow herbs, they were very excited. Without any mobilization, they voluntarily went to the farmland to help.
Yaohua dripped the remaining essence of plants on the red - fire dogwood and the spirit - gathering grass. The former was a fire - attribute spiritual fruit that could protect the Phoenixes who were about to advance and prevent them from dying due to the out - of - control spiritual power during the advancement. The latter could speed up the cultivation.
There were only these three robust plants in the herb garden, but all the clan members were looking at them eagerly, with the light of hope in their eyes.
A few days later, outside the territory of the Phoenix Clan, the leaders of various ethnic groups gathered.
"Uncles, why are you here?" Yaohua asked with a smile.
The Dragon Clan had always been on good terms with the Phoenix Clan. The leader of the Dragon Clan asked first. "Yaohua, I heard that the spirit - gathering grass has been grown in the Phoenix Clan. Is this true?"
Yaohua nodded. "You all have very good information. I suppose you're all here for this matter, right?"
At this time, the leader of the Fox Clan fanned himself and said. "This matter is of great importance. Go and invite your father out."
"No need." Grandpa Aheng said with a smile. "You clan leaders may not know that Princess Yaohua is now the leader of the Phoenix Clan."
Under the surprised looks of the clan leaders, Yaohua said calmly. "Please come in, everyone."
She generously showed the herb garden and the seeds to the clan leaders, let them identify the authenticity, and was willing to share these seeds.
The clan leaders of various ethnic groups left with the seeds in their hands, full of gratitude. "Who would have thought that Yaohua is better at handling things than Qingcang!"
The leader of the Fox Clan's narrow eyes curved slightly, showing a sly look. "However, she's being so generous, which means there must be more in the clan..."
The leader of the Dragon Clan snorted. "Nowadays, herbs are treasures everywhere. It's already a great favor that the Phoenix Clan is willing to give them to us. If anyone repays kindness with enmity and demands more, and does something bad to the Phoenix Clan, our Dragon Clan will never forgive them!"
With the Dragon Clan speaking up and having obtained the seeds, the clan leaders of various ethnic groups naturally didn't dare to have any wrong thoughts.